SWS: 86% of Filipino adults happy with life

MANILA, Philippines – A large number of Filipinos are generally happy and satisfied with their lives, a December 2013 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The SWS poll, conducted from Dec. 11 to 16, found 86 percent of Filipinos saying they were “very or fairly happy” with life in general (42 percent very happy, 43 percent fairly happy).

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,550 adults.

Only a few respondents claimed they were “not very happy” and “not at all happy” with life, at two percent each, the SWS said.

Happiness was high in all areas and social classes, the pollster said.

At least four out of five in all areas said they are happy, with the highest score in balance Luzon at 88 percent; followed by Mindanao at 87 percent, the Visayas at 83 percent, and Metro Manila at 80 percent.

By class, happiness was highest in class ABC at 90 percent; followed by class D, or the masa, at 87 percent; and class E at 80 percent.

Happiness tends to be higher among those who had more formal education, the SWS noted.

It was highest among college graduates at 92 percent; followed by high school graduates at 88 percent; elementary graduates at 84 percent; and those with at most some elementary education at 75 percent.

The SWS said unhappiness and life dissatisfaction was worse among Yolanda victims.

Eight in 10 or 82 percent of respondents affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda last year said they are happy with their lives.

Life satisfaction

The survey also found that 83 percent are very or fairly satisfied with the lives they lead, with 39 percent very satisfied and 43 percent fairly satisfied.

Life satisfaction was at 73 percent among Yolanda victims, 11 points below the 84 percent among non-victims.

It was highest in Mindanao at 80 percent; followed by Metro Manila at 79 percent; balance Luzon at 88 percent; and the Visayas at 76 percent.

By class, life satisfaction was highest in class ABC at 95 percent; followed by class D at 83 percent; and class E at 79 percent. –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)